Artificial implant lens

Abstract

An artificial implant lens for the eye of a living being has a central lens body and front and rear annular discs surrounding the lens body. The annular discs overlap the iris and secure the lens to the iris.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A lens of transparent material as a substitute for a surgically removed natural lens in the eye of a living being, comprising: a central lens body having front and rear ends, and   two discs adapted to overlap the edge of the iris which surrounds the pupil, for being attached to the iris, and disposed at said front and rear ends of said central lens body, respectively, an annular space being formed between said discs, said space widening towards its outer edge for receiving the pupil edge of the iris.   
     
     
       2. A lens according to claim 1, wherein said material includes a homogeneous, preferably flexible and elastic crystal-clear plastic material having a temperature stability of at least 200° C., being adapted to be physiologically neutral to tissues, and having a specific gravity equal to, or slightly exceeding the specific gravity of the aqueous humor of the human eye. 
     
     
       3. A lens according to claim 2, wherein said specific gravity is within the range of 1.0 to 1.1. 
     
     
       4. A lens according to claim 1, wherein said lens body has convexly curved faces, and wherein said discs are substantially annular and rounded out in an area bordering said space and near said lens body. 
     
     
       5. A lens according to claim 4 wherein said discs are concavely curved in an area bordering said space and near said lens body, and have a continuous and ridgeless transition. 
     
     
       6. A lens according to claim 4 wherein said lens body has on optically effective region of a predetermined diameter, and wherein at least one convexly curved face has a diameter equal to at least the diameter of said lens body. 
     
     
       7. A lens according to claim 1 wherein said discs have two facing surfaces, a projection being disposed at least on one of said surfaces and extending therebeyond into said space. 
     
     
       8. A lens according to claim 7, wherein said projection includes an annular ridge. 
     
     
       9. A lens according to claim 7 wherein said projection includes an interrupted annular ridge. 
     
     
       10. A lens according to claim 1, wherein the surfaces of said discs facing the annular space are rounded off at their outer edges. 
     
     
       11. A lens according to claim 1, wherein said lens body and said discs are integral. 
     
     
       12. A lens according to claim 1, wherein said lens body an said discs include a plurality of pieces. 
     
     
       13. A lens according to claim 1, wherein the rear disc for lying behind the iris is composed of an opaque material. 
     
     
       14. A lens according to claim 1, wherein in the rear disc is covered with an opaque material coating. 
     
     
       15. A lens according to claim 1, wherein the rear annular disc includes means for reducing the escape of light from said lens body. 
     
     
       16. A lens according to claim 15, wherein the light-reducing means includes a flange having the shape of a diaphragm ring. 
     
     
       17. A lens according to claim 1, wherein said lens body has an optically effective part including a front disc and further comprising a thread of surgically durable material embedded in a region of said front disc disposed substantially beyond the path of light rays penetrating said optically effective part of said lens body. 
     
     
       18. A lens according to claim 17, wherein said front disc is composed of a predetermined material, and wherein said thread is impregnated or coated with said predetermined material. 
     
     
       19. A lens according to claim 1, wherein said material is silicone rubber. 
     
     
       20. A lens according to claim 1, wherein the disc disposed at said front end of said central lens body is substantially annular, and includes a torus on a surface thereof adapted to face the iris, the outer diameter of the annular disc exceeding the outer diameter of said torus, and wherein the disc disposed at the rear end of said central body is an elongated cross-bracket formed with a ridge on a surface thereof adapted to face the iris, said ridge being disposed substantially parallel, and close to the circumference of said cross-bracket. 
     
     
       21. A lens according to claim 20, wherein said torus and said ridge are discontinuous. 
     
     
       22. A lens according to claim 20, wherein said cross-bracket has corners and said ridge is formed with discontinuities near said corners and on a portion of the cross-bracket facing said lens body. 
     
     
       23. A lens according to claim 20, wherein the outer diameter of said annular disc is within the range of 5.5 to 8 mm, wherein the length of said cross-bracket exceeds the diameter of said annular disc by about 2 mm, and wherein the diameter of said annular disc is about one and a half times the diameter of said lens body. 
     
     
       24. A lens according to claim 20, wherein the disc disposed at said front end has a rear surface and the disc disposed at said rear end has a front surface, the distance between said rear and front surfaces being within the range of 0.4 mm to 0.8 mm. 
     
     
       25. A lens according to claim 20, wherein radial ridges are arranged on the outer surface of the annular disc. 
     
     
       26. A lens according to claim 20, wherein radial ridges are arranged on the outer surface of the cross-bracket on its outer periphery. 
     
     
       27. A lens according to claim 20, wherein said elongated bracket has a substantially convex rear surface. 
     
     
       28. A lens according to any one of claims 20 through 27, wherein said material is silicone rubber.